Page 28 of Denial

Looking back, I watch as the truck suddenly flips to the side and slides across the pavement before going down into the ditch. I slow down and prepare to turn around to get Court and the guys with him. King lets Hope get up from the floor and she turns to see what’s going on behind us. In the rearview mirror, I see Killer and my dad getting out of the truck with Devil and Valor to rush to the truck that was trying to take us out. I bypass them after turning around and head straight for where Court’s SUV is in the ditch.

We come up on a few vehicles there with them and the guys from the club all sitting on the side of the road. I don’t see any injuries so far, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t hurt. Parking on the side of the road, I get out followed by everyone but Hope and Bronx. She remains in the SUV in case Becker is close by. King, Raptor, and I race up to where the guys are sitting.

“Are you guys okay?” I ask, kneeling down in front of Court.

“Yeah. Banged up, but nothin’ we need a hospital for. Why the fuck are you back here instead of gettin’ her home?” Court responds, confusion and anger in his voice as he looks over my shoulder at the SUV.

“The situation has been resolved. Killer, Playboy, Valor, and Devil showed up. They’re takin’ care of business right now. We gotta get back there though because Hope needs to see the person,” I say without going into too much detail with all the people around the area.

“Let’s fuckin’ go,” Court says, standing as Deegan appears with everything he could salvage from the SUV. “Got a truck on the way to pick the SUV up. Do we need to leave anyone behind with it?”

“No. If you already got someone on the way here, it won’t be long before they show up. I want to get Hope back to the clubhouse though and we need to make that stop first,” I say as we all head for the SUV I’m driving.

Handing the keys over to Court, I let him drive as I climb in the back with Hope. Red is up with Court and the rest of us cram in where we can. Deegan and Bronx are in the very back of the SUV with all the bags and shit we took to the cabin with the rest of us filling the seats. Court takes off in the direction we were heading and stops when he comes up to the truck on the side of the road. King gets out of the passenger side and steps back so Hope can follow him. I open my door and get out to follow my girl.

Killer walks straight up to Hope and pulls her into his arms. Her shoulders are shaking and I know she’s crying about the last several weeks and what happened today. Right now, she needs her dad just as much as he needs her. I stand back and let them have the time they need with King as we make sure no one comes for them at a vulnerable moment.

“Alright,” Hope says, holding her head high and straightening her back as she looks at all of us standing around. “Let me see this fucker.”

“Baby Girl, are you sure you wanna do this shit?” Killer asks her one more time as he wipes the tears from her face.

“I don’t want to do this, Dad. I need to do this. I’m the only one who can identify the hitman and you need me. As much as you hate that I have to do this shit, you need it from me. So, let me see the fucker because I know he’ll talk,” she states, her voice wavering with emotion as her hands shake and she shoves them in the pockets of the sweatpants she’s got on today.

Playboy opens the back door of the truck to reveal the fucker who was trying to take us out. Hope hesitates for just a second before stepping up and looking the asshole over. King, Killer, and I are right at her back as we watch the scene unfold in front of us.

“Surprise, motherfucker! You didn’t fucking get the job done,” she says, even though the guy hasn’t said a word to her.

I don’t miss the shock and rage filling his face and know this is the hitman.

“You fucking bitch!” he screams out, trying to get to Hope where she stands outside the truck.

“You’re not gonna touch me, fucker. You tried your best to kill me and it wasn’t good enough. Now, I hope my family members make you fucking suffer until you’re begging for death. And then I hope they continue to torture you until your body simply gives out. Then, I want them all to line up and piss on the unmarked grave you end up with,” Hope states, lunging in the door of the truck to land a punch on the fucker.

She blasts him right in the nose and I hear the satisfying crunch as it breaks and blood starts to spray all over the place. Looking at Killer as Hope steps back, he’s got the largest smile on his face because his daughter just confronted her nightmare and didn’t hold back because of the fear coursing through her. I’m proud as fuck of my girl.

“Baby Girl, let’s get you outta here. I don’t want you on your feet until Doc can come check you out. You were bumped around in the SUV and if you have any injuries we need to know about them now,” Killer says, looking Hope over once again as she lets him.

“I’m okay, Dad. But, I am ready for a nap. I didn’t sleep so good after therapy earlier. All I want is something to eat and then a bed,” she says, letting me take her in my arms so I can carry her back to the SUV.

The rest of the drive is made in silence as Hope once again starts to fall asleep in my lap. I hold her tight as she snuggles into me and King covers her with a blanket. Killer and Playboy remain behind us in case another attempt is made to get to us while another truck pulls up and gets in front of us. I’m not sure who’s driving or in that one, but I know it’s from the club. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s my grandpa Slim out here to help and get his hands dirty. Right now, I don’t even care though. I’ve got Hope in my arms and we’re almost home. Soon, I can make things official and we can start to move forward with the rest of our lives.

Chapter Eighteen

Hope

JINX WAKES ME up when we get back to the clubhouse. He doesn’t mean to wake me, but the jostling of his body pulls me from the light sleep I had managed to fall into. My eyes are barely open as I watch my dad drive around to the back of the clubhouse and know that the hitman is in that truck and these guys are about to torture and maim him. For the first time since I was attacked, a sense of peace washes over me and I know that a big part of the problem is going to be dealt with. Becker is still out there and will more than likely send out another hitman to try to take me out, but for now I’m with my family and I’m going to go in and find out what needs to be done in the clubhouse. I can’t believe someone started a fucking fire here. Who the hell does that shit where women and kids stay?

“Sweet Girl, are you gonna be okay if you’re in my room?” Jinx asks me as he gets out of the truck with me in his arms.

“Why would I be in your room?” I ask him, sleep still making my mind kind of fuzzy.

“You’re mine, Hope. If you’re gonna take a nap or anythin’, I want you in my bed. I know you’ve got your own room, but I’d rather you stay with me. If you want, I’ll go to your room to sleep. Either way, we’ll be together every fuckin’ night,” he states, walking behind King as Court and Raptor stay at our backs while Bronx and Deegan unload the SUV.

“I’m yours?” I ask, knowing I’m fucking with him a little bit after everything we’ve been through the last few weeks.

“You’re definitely mine, Sweet Girl. You gave yourself to me and I gave myself to you. There’s no other man for you and no other woman for me. Every fuckin’ night we’re in the same bed. Once you’re ready we’ll move to the house out back. Until then we’ll share a room here at the clubhouse,” Jinx says, his voice full of determination as we get inside the clubhouse to find everyone rushing around doing various things.

Some of them are eating, others are carrying huge garbage bags full of stuff from where the fire was, and anything else that needs to be taken care of. I smile as I watch the original club members work with the new members of our chapter and the Nomads who chose to stay here find a place and work with everyone. Annabell’s and Savannah’s kids are sitting at a table together with my mom, Shy, and Aunt Kim. They’re all eating and laughing about something.

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